Many parents take their children to see a chiropractor for various health complaints, including musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain, and non-musculoskeletal disorders such as infant colic and asthma.  However, this is a controversial area of chiropractic management because of concerns regarding the efficacy and safety of chiropractic care for children.

 A thematic series entitled ‘Chiropractic Care for Children’ published in Chiropractic & Osteopathy aims to provide an overview of the current best evidence in key aspects of evaluation and management of chiropractic care for children.

In their Editorial, Chiropractic & Osteopathy’s Editor-in-Chief Bruce Walker, the series’ Guest Editor, Simon French, and one of the journal’s Associate Editors, Stephen Perle, explain that there is currently very little evidence to inform chiropractic treatment of children, for both musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions. They outline the type of research needed to inform chiropractic practice, and also comment on what a chiropractic clinician is to do in the light of a lack of evidence to inform practice. They conclude that although some gains have been made, a further coordinated effort by the chiropractic profession is required to generate much more research in this area.

Chiropractic & Osteopathy, the official journal of the Chiropractic & Osteopathic College of Australasia, is ready to receive manuscripts on all aspects of evidence-based information that is clinically relevant to chiropractors, osteopaths and related health care professionals.